Just in time for WrestleMania.
LSU star Angel Reese showed up in the Tigers' biggest game of the 2023 season, netting 15 points in their win over Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes in a memorable, eventful championship game.
While Clark (deservedly) stole most of the headlines entering Sunday's national championship game, Reese stole the spotlight late in the game by borrowing a borrowed taunt of Clark's. Reese hit Clark with WWE legend John Cena's "You can't see me" gesture, also pointing to her ring finger in the process, rubbing plenty of salt in the wound:
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Reese explained she was "waiting" to unleash the taunt on Clark.
"I was waiting," Reese said after the game. "I'll tell you, I was waiting, I was waiting. Man, hey, Caitlin Clark is an incredible player for sure. But I don't take disrespect lightly. She disrespected Alexis (Moore) and my girls, South Carolina, they're still my SEC girls too, and y'all not gonna disrespect them either."
Famously, Clark hit Louisville's Hailey Van Lith with the taunt during the Iowa-Louisville Elite Eight matchup, a game in which Clark notched the first triple-double in NCAA women's March Madness history.
Following the game, LSU players were quick to praise Clark, but offered a bit of warning in the process.
"Caitlin, you had an amazing game, you're a great player," LSU's Alexis Moore said on the dais after the game. "But you gotta put some respect on LSU."
Clark had herself another stellar game, albeit in a losing effort: She set an NCAA Tournament record for 3-pointers made, while going for 30 points, eight assists and two rebounds in the matchup.
Despite the loss, Clark was gracious in her defeat, but claimed she didn't see it happen.
"Honestly I had no idea," Clark said. "I was just trying to get to the handshake line and shake hands. Be grateful that my team was in that position. That's all you can do is hold your head high and be proud of what you did. All the credit in the world to LSU. They were tremendous."
Added Clark after the news conference:
When asked about the taunt postgame, Clark's coach Lisa Bluder had a measured response, as well.
"I'm sure she was really proud of her accomplishment," Bluder said. "I would be really proud of my accomplishment if I won the national championship, too. We are all different people and we all have different ways to show our emotions. I've got to focus on what I can control."
The whole basketball thing is working out for both Reese and Clark, but maybe the two will meet in a steel cage match at next year's WrestleMania.